Avinash azad
A storm of controversy has erupted in the sacred town of Katra, the revered base camp for pilgrims embarking on the journey to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, as allegations surface that some hotels are blatantly flouting the District Magistrate’s strict orders banning the sale, possession, and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food.
The latest incident, involving the high-profile booking of social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, known as Orry, and seven others for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel on March 15, has ignited outrage among locals and devotees alike, casting a dark shadow over the town’s spiritual integrity.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police swiftly registered an FIR against the group, which included a Russian national, for violating the law and “hurting religious sentiments” after they were caught consuming liquor at a hotel in Katra, despite being explicitly warned of the prohibition.
This incident has peeled back the curtain on a deeper, more troubling trend: some hoteliers, driven by profit and a desire to appease wealthy guests, are allegedly turning a blind eye to the sanctity of the town by allowing not just alcohol but also non-vegetarian food to be served or consumed on their premises.
For millions of pilgrims who flock to Katra each year from across the globe, the town is more than a transit point—it’s an extension of the divine aura of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, a place where faith, purity, and devotion reign supreme. Yet, this sacred trust is being undermined by what locals and pilgrims describe as an “abuse for money.”
“We come here with devotion in our hearts, trusting that Katra respects the values we hold dear,” said Ramesh Sharma, a pilgrim from Haryana. “To hear that hotels are serving liquor and non-veg is a betrayal of everything this place stands for.”
A local hotelier, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed the pressures faced by businesses in the town. “Some staff members from companies providing heli-services approached me, requesting to serve eggs for breakfast and even seeking permission to bring non-vegetarian food from outside for their guests,” he said. “I rejected their proposal outright.
In my hotel, even onion and garlic are prohibited. My first priority is to uphold the sanctity of Katra—we can’t compromise our ethics just to attract new customers. But their request suggests that they are getting what they wanted elsewhere; what they had asked from me, they are now consuming at the hotel where they are staying.”
The hotelier’s stance stands in stark contrast to reports of larger establishments bending the rules. “When the administration repeatedly issues prohibitory orders banning liquor and non-veg, it’s shocking that some big hotels are willing to defy them,” he added.
“Police can’t be blamed entirely for this—they can’t raid every kitchen or hotel room—but there needs to be stricter oversight. If this goes unchecked, it could spiral out of control.”
The District Magistrate’s order, enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, explicitly prohibits alcohol and non-vegetarian items—including meat, eggs, and seafood—within Katra and along the 12-kilometer pilgrimage route to the shrine.
Initially imposed in December 2024 for two months and extended in February 2025, the ban reflects a long-standing commitment to preserving the spiritual ethos of the region, which also prohibits tobacco products. Yet, the recent incident involving Orry and his companions has exposed cracks in enforcement, raising questions about accountability and the role of hoteliers in safeguarding Katra’s sanctity.
Local outrage has been palpable. “This isn’t just about breaking a rule—it’s an insult to our faith,” said Ankush, a Katra resident. “The ban on liquor and non-vegetarian food has been in place since the time of the Maharaja. It is prohibited within a 15-kilometer radius. This is unacceptable, and the police are doing their job,” said Baldev Raj Sharma, a local MLA. Other MLAs from the BJP and other parties have also condemned this act.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have vowed a crackdown, with Reasi, SSP Paramvir Singh emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” policy for such acts at religious sites. “There is no place for those who disrupt the peace or disrespect the law of the land,” he declared, signaling that the Orry incident may be just the beginning of a broader enforcement push.
As Katra grapples with this scandal, the stakes couldn’t be higher. With over 10 million devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine annually, the town’s reputation as a bastion of purity hangs in the balance. Will stricter checks restore faith, or will greed continue to erode the sanctity of this holy land? For now, the pilgrims’ prayers are tinged with a plea for justice—and a return to the values that have long defined Katra.
